Heel



Oct. 5, 1937'. ,.1. F. R. P. lToURsuaR y 2,095,110I

` HEEL Filed May 22, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 5, 1937. J. F. R. P. ToURslER 2,095,110

HEEL

Filed May 22, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

Oct. 5, 1937. J. F. R.- P. TcURslER 2,095,110

` HEEL Filed May 22,' 193e s sheets-sheet 3 v INVENTOR. Jaa/V //Q? Taches/5e ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT This invention refers particularly to remova portions of shoes.

Experience has shown OFFICE f HEEL Jean Francois Roger Paul Toursier,

' Paris, France 5 Claims.

to shoes and relates more ble and replaceable heel that heels,h particularly the rear edges of heels, wear out more quickly than the other parts of a shoe.

the fact that often the This is due to entire weight of the body rests upon the rear edge of the heel and that whenever the wearer changes the direction of his walk rapidly, hisbody swings while resting upon the rear edge of the heel, so that this edge is continuously rubbed land wears out quickly.

When the sharp rear edge of the heel is worn out, the shoe loses its neat appearance and becomes uncomfortable.

The wearer is obliged to replace the heel by 'a new one at some expense.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a heel having removable and replaceable portions which'can be easily and conveniently substituted for the worn out rear edges of the heel.

Another object is the provision of a heel comprising a separate rear edge portion which can be quickly and easily replaced by the wearer after it has been wornout, without requiring the services of a Shoemaker and without it being necessary to provide an entirely new heel.

' The'above and objects of the present invention may be realized through the provision of a heel comprising a separate removable, replaceable and/cr reversible rear portion havingthe form 'of a symmetrical body so that one or more 'of the edges of said body may be used in lieu of en edge which has been worn out. This piece is situated within a suitable cut-out portion or cavity provided in the heel and is attached to the heel by any suitable means.l

The removable rear portion may be pivotally provided between the rear portion and the adjacent surfaces of the heel to permit the rear portion to turn slightly in a horizontal plane in relation to the heel when the wearer changes the direction of his walk,

thereby diminishing the friction between the heel and the ground.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing, byv way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive In the drawings:-

.Figure 1 is a perspective in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a side vi idea.

view'of a' heel made principles of the present ew of the heel shown in Figure 1 after the rear edge of the heel has been worn out;

Figure 3 shows the heel with removed;

Figures 4 and 5 are side views illustrating two diierentmethods of reinsertingthe removable rear portion of the heel.

Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of two different modications of the inventive idea;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a-heel having several removable rear portions;

Figure 9 is similar to Figure 8 andshows th heel with its rear portions removed;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a heel provided with several removable rear portions of a different form;

Figure 11 is similar to Figure l0 and shows the removable rear portions separately from the heel;

The shoe illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of lthe drawings comprises a heel 2|- attached to the sole by any suitable well-known means.

In accordance with the present invention, the rear end of the heel 2I is cut out in the form vof a cavity Ill, in which a separate reversible and replaceable rear portion or piece I3 is situated. The piece I3 may consist of the same or different material as the heel 2 I, such as leather, rubber, wood or the like, and is attached to the heel by means of wood screws I5 and 22 which are passed through suitable openings formed in the piece I3 and which are screwed into the heel The openings of the piece I3 are preferably conical in form so that the heads of the screws' situated within them do not project beyond the surface of the heel and Vdo not come in contact with the ground. l

As shown in Figure l therear portion I3 is symmetrical about a transverse axis 22 extending substantially at right angles to the direction of the shoe. The piece I3 has a curved edge 23 which interconnects the curved edges 24 and 25 of the heel 2| and forms a continuation thereof. The edge 26 oi the rear portion' I3 is substantially parallel to the edge 23 and in the position illustrated i'n Figure 2, is in engagement with the surlface I6 of theheel2l. Since the removable piece I3 is symmetrical in. relation to the axis 22, it has two other edges 21, andV 28 which are substantially symmetrical to 'the edges -23 and 26, respectively. The edge 21 forms a continuation of the edge'23 (Figure 1), while the edge 28 forms a continuation of the edge 26. In the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the edge 28 is in contact with the surface I6 of the heel 2l., while the edge-27 is in its rear portion contact with the vertical surface 29 and the surface 30 of the heel 2I.

As shown in Figure 3, the surface I6 of the heel may be provided with a series of parallel or intersecting grooves and the contacting surface -of the separate piece I3 may be formed in the disappear, changing into a substantially at or curved surface which inconveniences the wearer and gives the shoe'an unsightly appearance.

In accordance with the present invention,.the wearer may then repair the shoe himself without removing the entire heel 2I. This is accomplished by unscrewing the screws I and 22, and removing the piece I3 from the cutout portion I4 of the heel 2| (Figure 3). 'I'hen the wearer turns the piece I3 upside down, reinserts it into the cut-out portion I4 of the heel and then applies the screws I 5 and 22. In this position which is shown in Figure 5, the edge 28 of the piece I3 will occupy the place of the wornout edge 23, while the edge 23 will 4occupy the place of the edge 28 and will be located adjacent the vertical wall 23 of the heel. Therefore, by this manipulation an entirely new edge 21 will replace the wornout edge 23, the wom-out edge 23 being hidden from view by the adjacent walls of the heel 2l, so that the shoe will again have a neat and new appearance.

'I'he same object may be achieved by turning Athe removed piece I3 in ahorizontal plane to the extent of 180 and then fastening it again to the heel 2|. As shown in Figure4, theedge 21 will then occupy the place of the wom-out edge 23, while the edge 23-will be situated Within the cutot portion I4 adjacent the walls 30 and 23 lof the heel. Consequently, the wearer purchasing shoes manufactured in accordance with the present invention, can wear out four rear edges 23, 26, 21 and 23 of a heel before he is obliged to replace the removable piece I3 originally purchased with the shoe.

Figure 6 shows a heel 32 having a removable piece 36 which is connected by a single screw 3| with the heel. 'I'he removable piece 36 and the adjacent wall 33 of the heel 32 are so shaped, that a small space or slot 34 is provided between the wall 33 and the adjacent surface of the removable piece 36. Due to this arrangement, the piece 36 may turn to a certain extent around its pivotal screw 3| 4when the wearer turns on his heels. At that time there is a slight relative movement between the removable piece 36 and lthe heel'32, `with the result thatthe frictional project beyond the sole 43 in order not to in' convenience thevwearer.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate two superposed removable pieces 5I and v52 which are both attached by means of the screws53 and 54 to the sole 56 of the shoe, and which are situated in a' suitable cavity or cut-out portion 51 formed in the heel 56.

. After the four edges of the removable piece 52 have been` worn out one after theother by the wearer, he can reverse the position of these pieces by placing the worn-cut piece 52 upon the surface 58 of the cut-out portion 51 and by placing theA piece 5I upon the worn-out piece 52. Thus the heel shown in Figures 8 and 9 is provided with eight rear edges which can be worn-out successively one after the other by the wearer.

The heel shown in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, comprises four removable pieces 60, 6I, 62 and 63. The removable pieces 60 and 62 are placed one on top of the other and are attached to the sole 10 of the shoe by means of screws 64 and 65, while the removable pieces 6I and 63 are attached to the shoe by means of screws 66 and 61. The pieces 60 andv 6I are situated one next .to the other and are similar in form. Each of the four pieces 60 to 63 comprises two curved edges 68 and 63 which may be-used as the rear edge of the heel.

Obviously, the heel may beprovided with any appearance and their durability will be much'y greater.

What is claimed is:

'1. In a shoe, a heel having a cut-out portion at the rear thereof, a plurality of separate removable and replaceable pieces adapted to be placed one on top of the other, said plurality of separate pieces fitting into said cut-out portion of the heel, and means connecting said plurality of separate pieces with said heel, each of said separate pieces having at least oneedge adapted to constitute the rear edge of the shoe when that piece is placed on top of the other pieces in the reversed position of the shoe.

2. In a shoe, av heel having a vcut-'out portion at the rear thereof, a plurality of separate removable and replaceable pieces placed one on top of the other, means for removably securing said4 pieces to the cut-out portion of the heel, whereby said pieces may be entirely free from one another and whereby the order of said pieces may be reversed to be brought successively Into contact with the ground as the edge of each piece becomes W`orn down.

3. In a shoe, a heel having a cut-out portion at the rear thereof, a plurality of separate layers placed one on top of the other tting into said cut-out portion of the heel, means for removably portion whereby said layers may be entirely free from one another and whereby the order of the pile maybe reversed to bring said layers successively into contact with the ground as the edge of each layer becomes worn down, said layers being divided along their axes of symmetry to form each layer intotwo halves whereby the number of reversible positions of said layers will be increased.

4. 'A shoe comprising a heel and asoie, a symmetrica! cavity in' said heel, .a symmetrically securing said layersto said heel in said cut-outl shaped rear heel portion removably mounted in said cavity, said rear heel portion comprising a plurality of separate layers placed one on top of the other, said layers normally being entirely free from one another'whereby the order of the pile may be reversed to bring said layers successively into contact with the ground as the edge of said layer becomes worn down and whereby the number. of edges whichl may be utilized will be increased.

5. A heel for shoes and the like having a symmetrlcal cavity at the rear thereof, asymmetrically shaped protector removably mounted in said cavity, said protector being divided'into a plurality of separate layers placed one on top` of the other',jsaid layers normally being entirely free from one another whereby the order of the pile may be reversed to bring said layers successively into contact with the ground as the edge of each layer becomes worn down and whereby the number of edges which may be utilized will be increased.

l FRANCOIS ROGER PAUL TOURSIER. 

